I was just thinking about how 2015 has been a rather sucky year so far. In January, I got hit with a stomach bug. Then February a really bad flare-up of diverticulitis. When I say “really bad” – I mean between the pain and the effects of the antibiotics, I was out of circulation for several weeks. March brought a back ache that just wouldn’t go away, followed closely by another flare-up of diverticulitis. More antibiotics – but amazingly a very mild case. And now I’m dealing with lower back pain that has practically immobilized me.
I got a FitBit for Christmas, and I’ve been so eager to maintain a strong walking program. It seems that each time I get back into the swing of walking regularly, some other physical ailment strikes and sidelines me for a week or two. One would think that with all the walking I’ve been doing, 2015 would be a healthier year for me instead of all these ailments.
Thanks to the stomach bug and diverticulitis, I lost about 12 lbs initially – and I stalled there – up 3 lbs, down 3 lbs. I think I’m around 10 lbs less than when I started the year. I’m trying to maintain. It’s difficult when I’m forced to be fairly inactive. This morning I decided that I’d go workout and then walk and just ignore my back pain. My back pain decided to show me who’s boss. Driving the car was almost impossible because sitting is so painful. As I type these words, I’m in my recliner – almost completely reclined so the pressure is off my lower back. Earlier I pulled into the parking lot at the gym and realized that it would take a lot of effort and involve a lot of additional pain to get out of the car. I texted Marianne and cancelled my workout. I drove to Target and very gingerly got out of the car – literally holding on for dear life as I slowly straightened up to walk inside. As I was finishing up my shopping, I could feel my pain reliever cocktail (3 Advil, 2 Tylenol) taking effect. The pain was lessening, and I could walk fairly normally. A few weeks ago I was taking a more serious pain reliever cocktail (3 Advil, 2 Tylenol, an aspirin and an Aleve) but Meleah told me to stop that – it was too dangerous for my kidneys to process all that. That cocktail worked, though.
I have a doctor’s appointment in a couple hours – I’ll probably lie in bed with a heating pad against my back until then.
Then, as I think about how “rough” I’ve had it so far this year, I think of how blessed I am that diverticulitis and back pain are the only significant health issues I have. My friends Judy and Kelly are both battling breast cancer, there are children losing their lives to cancer every day, a train derailed in Pennsylvania last night killed at least 6 people. My physical problems pale in comparison. That doesn’t lessen the back pain but it puts it in perspective, at least.
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